Aluminum Alloy Selection for in Situ Composite Production by Oxygen Blowing

Abstract

We considered the possibility of using AlMg10, AlCu5, AlCu5Cd, AlSi12, and AlSi7Zn9 as initial alloys for in situ composites production via oxygen blowing of hydrogen pre-saturated melts as an alternative to AlSi7Fe. The production process provides the destruction of the oxide film on the melt surface. It was demonstrated that oxide film on AlMg10 alloy did not get destroyed due to the heavy thickness because of the porous structure that contributed to its kinetically based growth. Copper-bearing alloys AlCu5 and AlCu5Cd were characterized by the low-strength oxide film and got destroyed before floating, causing the oxide porosity. Silicon-bearing alloys AlSi12 and AlSi7Zn9 provide the dense structure, which makes it clear that to understand the Pilling–Bedworth ratio for basic alloying elements is required for a non-destructed oxide void floating and shall exceed the range of 1.64–1.77. However, the oxide film in silicon-bearing alloys under investigation did not get destroyed into fine particles. AlSi7Zn9 alloy had inclusions of smaller sizes as compared to AlSi12 alloy due to the ZnO that embrittled the film, but which were grouped to form oxide islands. Moreover, zinc was evaporated during blowing. The mechanical properties of the produced composites were based on the alloys under investigation which were in line with their structures. A higher value of the Pilling–Bedworth ratio of impurities was required for fine crushing: The conventionally used AlSi7Fe alloy met this requirement and was therefore considered to be the optimum version. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.